Directional signal



W. J. PORTER I DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL March 31, 1942.

Filed June 21 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

March 31, 1942. w, J, PORTER DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL Filed June 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W J: 1 0F207 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.-

March 31, 1942. w. J. PORTER- DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21,- 1940 r ,3} v 7 il fzzfai iert IN VEN TOR.

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March 31', 1942. w. J. PQRTER 2,278,282

DIRECTIONAL S IGNAL Filed June 21, 1940 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 .F'g-Zd.

ATTORNEYS.

I Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICEv DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL William J. Porter, Chattanooga, Tenn. I

Application June 21, 1940, Serial No. 341,773

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a directional signal for use on motor vehicles, one of the objects being to provide a means whereby the driver, by pressing a selected button, can effect illumination of certain lampsindicating the direction in which a turn is to be made, the illumination of the lamps being maintained until the vehicle is straightened out following a turn during which operation the lights are extinguished.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character utilizing a relay which is energized when the signal circuit is closed by the operator, said circuit being broken by the rotation of the steering wheel in the direction necessary to cause the vehicle to travel straight ahead following the completion of a turn.

Another object is to provide a circuit breaker of new and novel construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in diagram the apparatus constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the hub portion of the steering wheel and adjacent parts.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section showing the relative positions of the members of one of the switches while a right-hand turn is being made without breaking the previously established circuit tothe relay.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the members of the switch cooperating during the rotation of the wheel in the opposite direction for the purpose oi breaking the circuit to the relay while the vehicle is being brought into position to move straight ahead following the completion of a turn.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified construction, and taken on line 66, Fig. 7. V

Figure '7 is a section on line I'I, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view showing the modified form of apparatus in diagram.

Figure 10'is an elevation of a portion ofa steering post and wheel-hub equipped with another form of apparatus.

Figure 11 is a section on line I|--II, Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view showing this modified form in diagram.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates the tubular center standard of the steering post on which can be mounted the horn button indicated at 2. This standard is surrounded by the tubular rotatable post 3 the upper end of which can be closed by a ring 4* joined thereto. This tubular member is surrounded by the stationary sleeve 5 above which is positioned the steering wheel 6 which is joined to the upper end of the tubular member 3 so as to rotate it. The hub portion I of the steering wheel is recessed as indicated at 8, this recessed portion being closed by a cover plate 9 in which are mounted preferably three push-buttons III, II and I2.

Located at any convenient point within or upon the steering post is a relay indicated generally at I3'and which includes a centrally fulcrumed armature I4 the arms of which cooperate with spaced electromagnets I5I5. Contacts I 6 and 1 are normally spaced from the terminals of the armature I4 and said armature, as shown in Figure 1, is electrically connected, as at I8, to one of the contacts of each of the push-buttons I0, I I and I2.

Mounted within the recess 8 and secured to the stationary central standard I, is a disk I9 and at diametrically opposed points this disk has depending studs 20 on which are mounted contact levers 2| and 22 respectively. One arm of lever 2| is held normally pressed against a fixed contact 23 by a spring 24 while the corresponding end of lever 22 is held normally engaged with a contact 25 by a spring 26. That end of lever ZI remote from contact 23 has a rounded head 2! projecting therefrom toward the standard I and a similar head 28 is carried by lever 22 at that end thereof remote from contact 25; this head likewise being extended in the direction of the standard I.

Mounted on the closed end 4 of the rotatable member 3 of the steering post are diametrically opposed pivot studs 29 on which are mounted oppositely extending tripping dogs 30 and 3| respectively. These dogs are held normally pressed in one direction against stop pins 32, springs 33 being used for this purpose. -The outer or free ends of the dogs are, rounded to formcams and under normal conditions, while the vehicle, to

which the apparatus is attached, is pointed for straight away movement, these dogs are extended laterally in front of the respective heads 21 and 28. The cam-shaped ends of the dogs are so shaped that when they are positioned as shown in Figure 3, clockwise movement of cam 30 or counterclockwise movement of cam 3| will result in either cam snapping past the head 21 or 28 in the path thereof, without actuating the lever from which the head extends. However should cam 33 be moved in a clockwise direction against head 21 or cam 3| moved in a counterclockwise direction against head 28, the cams would under these conditions press against the heads in an unyielding manner so as to force them out of their paths and break the electrical connections between the lever 2| or 22 and its contact 23 or 25.

As shown in Figure 1 contact 23 is electrically connected to contact H which, in turn, is electrically connected to a lamp R used for indicating a right turn. Contact 25 is electrically connected to the second contact of push-button H; to the left-hand turn signal lamp L; to the electromagnet l5, and to the ground. Lever 2| is electrically connected to the second contact of pushbutton ID; to another right-hand turn lamp R; to electromagnet |5', and to the ground. Lever 22 is electrically connected to contact l5 which, in turn, is electrically connected to another lamp L indicating a left turn. One terminal of the battery B is grounded while the other terminal extends to the second contact of button l2, this button being normally in circuit closing position as shown in Figure 1.

Assuming that the switch members on the steering post are in normal positions as in Figure 3 for straight ahead driving, the parts of the apparatus will all be positioned as in Figure 1.

When a right-hand turn is to be made the driver depresses the push-button H) which is at the right of the center of the steering wheel. This momentarily closes the circuit through button through the connections shown to lamp R. When the magnet l5 of the relay was energized by the depression of button in it attracted one arm of the armature |4 thereby closing said armature against contactll.

I is released following momentary depression and actuation of the relay as described, the current is established from the battery B through connection l8 and the armature l4 and contact IT to lamp R and through contact 23 and lever 2| to magnet l and thence to the ground. Thus the magnet l5 continues to be energized so as to hold the armature in circuit-closing p0 sition and to maintain the lamps R and R illuminated.

Following depression of button Hi and its release whereby the lamps R and R are lighted, the driver turns the wheel to the right from the position shown in Figure 3. This causes dog 3|! to move in a clockwise direction so that it will snap past the head 27 without disturbing the position of lever 2|. As the wheel continues to turn to the right the dog 3|, which is oppositely arranged relative to dog 33, will come against the head 21 and push it out of the path thereof as indicated in Figure 5, thereby causing said lever 2| to move away from its contact 23. Consequently the circuit to magnet l5 will be broken and the circuit to the lamps R and R will also be broken. The operator can then turn the H) tolever 2| and contact 23 and thence As soon as button wheels for the purpose of causing the vehicle to move straight ahead and during this return movement of the wheel I, the dog 3| will snap past the head 21 while moving in a counterclockwise direction and dog 30 will pass head 2! until the parts are restored substantially to the positions shown in Figure 3.

When making a left-hand turn the foregoing operation is repeated with the exception that button I indicating a left turn is first depressed so as to momentarily close the circuit to the lamps L and L and through magnet |5 whereby the armature is attracted into engagement with contact I6. Subsequently thereto, when the circuit is broken at the button H, the lamps and the magnet 5 are maintained energized through the circuit leading to lever 22 and contact 25 from make a turn, it is only necessary under those conditions to depress button l2 whereupon the solenoid will be deenergized and the lights turned off. I

In Figures 6 to 9 inclusive there has been shown a modified form of apparatus wherein the number of moving parts is reduced and the number of tripping actions is also decreased. In this modified structure the Wheel 6' corresponds with the wheel 6 and has a recess 8' similar to recess 8, this wheel being mounted for rotation relative to the post A cover plate 9 similar to plate 9 is mounted on the wheel and serves to close recess 8 while fixedly mounted on the post and supported in recess 8 is a disk l8 similar to disk I9.

Secured to the disk |3'- at diametrically opposed points within recess 8,'are electromagnets 34 and 35 and adjacent to these electromagnets are mounted pins 36 on which are swiveled pocket members 31 each of which has a projecting ear 3B. Pivotally mounted on one of the ears 38 is a lever 33 one end portion of which constitutes the armature of magnet 34. The other ear 38 has a lever 40 pivotally mounted thereon, one end portion or arm of this lever constituting the armature of the magnet 35. The other arms of the two levers are provided with heads 4| and 42 respectively extended toward the post Springs 43 serve to hold the heads 4| and 42 normally pressed in the direction of the post but those arms of the levers constituting the armatures are at the same time pressed away from each other. Thus they are held normally in engagement with contacts 44 and 45 which are car ried by disk l9 and extend downwardly across the respective levers where they can remain in contact with the levers when said levers are wiped therealong.

In this modified construction an operating dog 46 similar in construction to the dog 3| is carried by the wheel 6 and is so located in recess 8 that it can move against head 4| or head 42 and thrust the same laterally if said head is shifted out of its normal position as hereinafter explained and as shown particularly in Figure 7. Two of these dogs 46 are used at diametrically opposed points in the same relation to each other as are the dogs 30 and 3| in Figure 3.

The light circuit with the relay and the switches has been illustrated in Figure 9 and is the same as that shown in Figure I with the exception that one side of each magnet 34 and 35 is grounded while the other side of magnet 34 is electrically connected in parallel with the lamps L and L. Electromagnet 35 is electrically connected in parallel with the lamps R and. R.

Normally the head of each lever 39 and 40 is held elevated by a spring 41 and the armature end of the lever is normally spaced from the magnets 34 or 35 associated therewith. With the parts thus positioned the wheel 6 can be rotated freely without danger of actuating either of the levers by a dog 46. This is due to the fact that this dog under normal conditions is free to move under the heads of the levers. Should it be desired to make a right-hand turn, however, the button I would be depressed to close the circuit to the lamps R and R by way of lever 40 and the contact 45 engaged thereby. The closing of the circuit by the depression of button l0 also closes a circuit through the magnet 35 which, being energized, actuates lever 49 so that the armature end thereof will slide along contact 45 while the head 42 will move downwardly into the path of one of the dogs 46. Simultaneously with this action the electromagnet I is energized, thereby closing the circuit through the relay with the result that current continues to be supplied to the lamps and the magnet 35 remains energized. Thus the wheel can be rotated through approximately three-quarters of a circle, dog 46 slipping past the shifted head 42. When the wheel is straightened out the said dog, in its reverse movement with the wheel, will press against head 42 and thrusting it out of its path. As soon as this is done the circuit is broken at the contact 45 with the result that the lamps R and R and the magnet 35 are immediately deenergized and the relay is reset. When making a left turn the foregoing operation is reversed, the operator depressing the button II to close the circuit to the lamp L and L and the lever 39 being actuated and released in the same manner as has been explained in connection with lever 40.

Another arrangement of parts has been illustrated in Figures to 12 inclusive. In this structure the supporting member or base 41 is attached to the stationary sleeve 5 and supports diametrically opposed electromagnets 48 and 49. A bracket 50 is fixedly mounted adjacent to each of the electromagnets and on one of these brackets is pivotally mounted an upwardly extending arm 5| having a laterally projecting armature 52 which overlies the magnet 49, this armature be- Connected to but insulated from the arm 5| is a movable contact 51 normally spaced from a fixed contact 58. Another movable contact 1 59 is connected to but insulated from the arm ing extended toward the sleeve 5' and adjacent to the wheel hub 6. Another arm 53 is extended upwardly from the other bracket 50 and has a laterally extending armature 54 which overlies the electromagnet 48 and is extended toward sleeve 5'. Both of these armatures are subjected 53 and is normally spaced from a fixed contact 60.

Secured to the hub of wheel 6' is a tripping stud 6| having oppositely extending pointed or cam-shaped ends 62 and 63 respectively. This stud is located where it will, under normal conditions, move under the free ends of the respective armatures 52 without contacting with them. Thus normally the wheel can be turned without producing any results as far as the lighting system is concerned. By depressing the button [0 controlling the lights R and R, however, the circuit is closed to magnet 49 which, being energized, attracts its armature 52 and pulls it into the path of the lug 6|. At the same time contact 51 is thrust against contact 58, thereby closing a circuit through the relay the magnet l5 of which was energized simultaneously with magnet 49. When button I!) is released the two magnets will remain in circuit through the relay. The wheel 6' can then be given a three-quarter turn to the right and thereafter the advancing end 62 of the lug will be moved under the lowered end of armature 52 and thrust the armature upwardly away from its magnet 49, thereby breaking the circuit at the contacts 51 and 58 causing the parts to be reset. When the button I is depressed for the purpose of indicating a left-hand turn and illuminating the lamp L and L, the same action takes place through magnet 48, contacts 59 and land relay magnet l5, as has been described already in connection with the closing of the circuit with button II], it being understood of course that the wheel is to be turned to the left for the purpose of breaking the circuit following a three-quarter rotation.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a steering wheel, of a directional signal including a normally open lamp circuit having a relay and a normally open switch shiftable to momentarily close the circuit to the lamp and to energize the relay, a normally closed switch, means for shunting a portion of the current from the momentarily closed circuit through the normally closed switch to keep the relay energized when the normally open switch is restored to normal position, and means operated by the rotation of the wheel in one direction for opening the normally closed switch to break the circuit to the relay and lamps, said normally closed switch including a lever normally engaged at one end with a contact, an electromagnet so connected as to be energized when the relay and lamp circuit is closed, said magnet constituting means, when energized, for shifting one end 01 the lever into the path of said wheel-operated means for actuation thereby, and means for urging the lever into normal position.

WILLIAM J. PORTER. 

